For only the second time this season, Penn State men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik was happy with his team's effort and emotion on its home court.

But it wasn't enough.

The No. 8 Penn State men's volleyball team fell to No. 7 Lewis Saturday night at Rec Hall, 21-30, 30-27, 30-21, 30-27, after defeating Div. III Springfield on Friday night, 30-28, 30-21, 30-26.

The Lewis game marked the end of a six-game homestand during which Penn State went 5-1. However, Pavlik was displeased with his team's intensity in all of the games except the Nittany Lions' win against Loyola-Chiacago and the loss Saturday to Lewis.

"I feel a hundred percent better than I did after those three wins," Pavlik said, referring to Penn State's unemotional performances against New York University, St. Francis and Juniata.

The Lions looked energized at the outset, but Lewis was able to match Penn State's intensity, as the Lions seemed to have no answer for Lewis opposite hitter Fabiano Berreto or outside hitter Gustavo Meyer. But with the score knotted at 12-12, the momentum shifted to the Lions' side, as Zeljko Koljesar and Norm Keil teamed up to block Meyer, prompting Koljesar to raise his hands and call for the crowd.

Penn State went on to win four straight points behind the serve of senior co-captain Zach Slenker, whose serve looked virtually unhittable all weekend.

Slenker tallied six aces over the weekend, and Penn State outscored Lewis, 18-9, to take the match's first game, 30-21.

Penn State hit a sizzling .667 in the first game, led by Koljesar and junior Keith Kowal, who both notched four kills. Kowal had nine kills for the match and led the team for the fifth time this season with five blocks. His sister, Olympic swimming silver medalist Kristy Kowal, was in attendance to see her brother play for the first time at Penn State.

Lewis battled back in the second stanza, led by Berreto, who had six of his team-leading 17 kills in the second game. Penn State found itself down 29-24 before Slenker took over with a kill and two service aces. Up 29-27, Lewis called timeout, then ended the game with a kill by Kevin Miller, who had 10 kills during the match, and led all players, hitting at a .909 clip. Slenker, who was feeling ill during the weekend, had seven of his career-high 21 kills to help keep the Nittany Lions in the contest.

"After the way he played, whatever he's got, I hope he has it all season," Pavlik said jokingly.

After falling 30-21 in the third game, Penn State came out poised to make a run in the fourth game, and the two teams were locked at 20-20. The game remained close down the stretch, with Lewis clinging to a 28-27 lead. However, a kill by James Elsea and a block by Meyer, who had 13 kills for the match, sealed the win for Lewis.

"They played very well," Slenker said. "This was a measuring stick. The good thing is the national championship isn't until May."

Freshman setter Dan O'Dell got his first career start Saturday, and played well, setting a career high with 51 assists. Carlos Guerra had two service aces, making him Penn State's all-time ace leader with 101, passing Jose Quinones.

The Lions set season highs in attendance, as the weekend total reached more than 2,400. Libero Ricky Mattei had his own fan club, as friends from his hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico, flew in to celebrate his birthday, which passed last weekend.